AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I gave him a small smile. “Sleep is very important. Critical even.”
Roan opened the door, holding it for me. “I’m aware.” He might have heard it from me a time or two.
“Well, as long as you know.” I set the lock for the warehouse and then quickly undid my braid. I bent my head down, letting my long hair fall to shield my face as we stepped into the crowded streets. I tried to wear neutral colors that didn’t attract any attention. Since I hadn’t even broken a sweat tonight, I kept on my black active leggings and tank top. I pulled the hood of my thin gray hoodie up over my head. Patrol bots zoomed overhead, scanning everyone. I’d yet to be picked up by facial rec, and I was doing everything I could to make sure it stayed that way.
Someone bumped into my shoulder as they pushed through the crush of people, and Roan pulled me closer to his side.
A ship flew low over the mishmash of buildings in Albuquerque’s warehouse district. The engines were so loud I had to cover my ears. I watched it disappear from view but kept looking up for a second. Smog and light pollution hid any inkling of the night sky overhead, but I still tried to make out the stars. Hoping to see something to wish on. Hoping that something would change. But it never did.
A Tykson revved its engine down the street. The single-person, hovering motorcycle was on the wish list of every eighteen-year-old I knew, except me. I was saving every penny I had to buy my own ship so that I could safely get off this planet. It was my only chance at not getting caught. Another solid five years of saving, and I might be close to having enough.
The blast of air under the Tykson spat dirt along my leg as it zoomed past. “Asshole. SpaceTech isn’t even attempting to clean up the city anymore.”
Roan ignored me because I could go on forever once I started on the company. “Haden stopped by during your intermediate class.”
I winced. I’d seen my ex stop by, but thankfully I hadn’t talked to him. “What’d he want?”
We separated for a second to let someone pass between us. The side streets were way too crowded tonight. It was making me antsy.
“Jorge has a new recruit for you to train.”
“Oh. Really?” Jorge was the head of the ABQ Crew. He’d been the one that found me and my mom eleven years ago when we first got to New Mexico. He set us up with a safe place to live and papers to make us able to work and we were finally able to stop running. I owed him everything. In return, I trained his recruits so they could help patrol the streets. Someone had to make Albuquerque safe, and SpaceTech wasn’t doing shit. This city owed a lot to the Crew, even if SpaceTech viewed them as a vigilante gang.
“Guy a year older than us wants in. He’s got some medical training, so he’ll be an asset, but he has to learn how to handle himself in case shit ever goes bad.”
“I can do that. He’ll have to start in my beginner class, just like everyone else. No bitching about being in class with kids.”
“That’s fine. He’s already agreed and won’t be complaining. He’ll be there tomorrow.”
“Frosty.” Teaching was the only thing I actually liked doing on Earth. It made me feel like I was making a difference.
“And…”
Oh boy. Roan never hesitated to say anything unless he was about to piss me off. “What?”
“Haden wanted to talk to me about something more personal,” Roan said as he pulled me back to his side again.
“More personal? With you? You’re not even friends with him.”
“He uh… He wanted my opinion on how to get back together with you.” Roan blocked his face, as if I’d hit him.
I rolled my eyes, and Roan stood straight again.
God. Haden was a bad decision that apparently wasn’t going away. “No. He thinks he wants to get back together with me.”
Roan laughed. “How is him thinking he wants to be with you different than him actually wanting to be with you?”
“Because as soon as we’re together, he’ll start whining again. I’m not opening up. I’m not letting him in. Blah. Blah. Blah. He’s got this picture of what we’d be like in his mind, but when it’s not actually like that, all he does is complain. I couldn’t ever be myself around him.” And that had been the downfall of our relationship. “Honestly, I’m starting to think I’m not built to be with anyone. Haden was sweet, caring, has a good business. In his spare time, he cooks for the homeless with the Crew. On paper, he’s pretty perfect. Maybe even too perfect. But he kept calling and calling and calling. The more he called the more I wanted him to leave me the hell alone. He doesn’t deserve that. He should have a girl that actually wants to answer his calls.”
“Well, you’re the girl he wants. Haden showing up to talk to me? That takes balls.”
“I guess, but don’t you think it’s a sign that you’re my best friend and you’re not friends with him?”
“No. He’s in the Crew, just like us. Which means he’s already been vetted. And I’m not in the relationship. That’s just you and him. He really wants to try to see what’s between you two, and you say he’s perfect on paper, so maybe he’s worth another shot?”
Christ. Enough with this already. “Don’t make me feel bad about it. I didn’t feel a connection with him, and I tried. That’s it. It’s over.”
“But did you try? Did you open up to him?” Roan raised his voice over the sounds of the people around us as we moved through a crowded intersection. “Did you tell him about your dad?”
